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A year and a half ago the club tried to replace the RBB. They published a letter to all members advising of how the club had decided on a "new resolution" for a "new era in active support". They called for a club supported coup from members who wanted to "lead an active support change". The RBB weren't involved and didn't say "We no longer want to do active support", this was a club lead effort with a goal was to replace the RBB, ban all the leaders if they complained and to create a McWanderers Sponsor Activated Cheersquad Fan Zone like we see in the AFL.

Where were all the people complaining about the RBB to step forward? This was their big chance, for the person on the sideline who wanted an atmosphere without the RBB involved to take over. To lead the "new phase of active support at WSW".

And what happened? No-one put their hands up. The club slinked back to the RBB trying to pretend like it never happened. And now the club haven't bothered supporting the fans who were banned for giving a spray to the woefully under-performing players, they haven't bothered pushing the new FFA Board to implement the ban appeal process that the FFA along with every other active support group in the league agreed needed to happen.

The club want to sweep the last few seasons (on and off the field) under the carpet and only care about wanting the RBB to start pushing active support memberships for next year.

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The RBB is not beholden to anyone and answerable to it's various sub groups so the accusation of self interest isn't new but nonetheless misplaced. The club attempts at creating neutered performing puppets as a marketing tool are well documented. If the club is left with mediocrity on the pitch and silence in the stands then it may want to reconsider the "match day experience" it delivers at Fortress Parramatta. This is the other side of the Zero Tolerance stick. Let's see how the dark side of the moon looks. In the meantime Gosford and Newcastle away will be a treat.

I've got a few things to say to your post - but first of all...

Your posts are often very colourful and hard hitting, DU - although sometimes they are so colourful, and metaphorical, that I feel I miss the point.

With this post, the language is colourful and metaphorical, but the message is crystal clear - and it's perfectly fair enough.

At two soul-stiflingly awful venues, with a team that hasn't lived up to supporter's expectations, the SOP experience has been dreadful, and numbers in attendance at games have dropped away dramatically. But it hasn't only been about being at SOP. And heading off next season to a new stadium is what most of us hope will stem the rot...but it might not, if other aspects of the running of this club remain sub par.

I've had issues with only one aspect of what has sometimes happened in the RBB since season 1, but I've never been in any doubt that the RBB, and it's leadership of the phenomenal stadium wide support we used to enjoy, has been the best feature of the "match day experience" for most supporters.

To have watched them steadily shrink and now choose to be silent for the rest of the season speaks volumes for the general frustration and dissatisfaction within the membership ranks.

Since season 1, to support the team, my family has travelled to every A League venue in the competition except for Perth. But one membership has been dropped this year, and 2 other members have refused to attend games for the rest of the season since the second last ANZ game. I won't be going back on my own.

I basically have considered that our four memberships for the last 2 years , and this season our three memberships have constituted a $1000+ a year donation to the club, in the hope that something worthwhile will be waiting for us next season.

I am absolutely NOT someone who is only happy when we win, but we didn't get much value for money in any of those 3 years tbh. Starting with the carelessly selected (and dreadful) seats allocated at Soulless in the first season there, to the deep frustrations over under-strength teams, to the observably unfair treatment dished up to the RBB (apparently condoned by the club), no one has had much joy for three seasons.

To see some of the stalwarts from these forums (people who used to drive to Parra from Coonbarabran!!! and Canberra etc) lose faith in the club/question the values of the club is very disheartening.

I admire those many of you who have stuck it out through thick and thin at SOP...I really do.

But I don't think it's a bad idea for the club management to contemplate "how the dark side of the moon" looks … and to contemplate it very seriously. Because most of us probably know people who have moved on from WSW, and who won't be returning because of a new stadium.

Club management need to get prepared to do better than they've done in the past at a number of levels, to build and retain more than a semblance of what we once had at Parra.

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I respect the RBB & appreciate what they’ve done for the Club but it seems a little self indulgent IMO.

In the past, I probably would have thought this way - but not now.

2 hours ago, btron3000 said:

I assume one of the things you appreciate is the culture they created that had us as undeniably one of the top 2 clubs in terms of atmosphere and supporters?

The reasons they give on their Facebooo page are not fabricated. Any attempt to create that atmosphere ends in ridiculous bans, and also in us looking like the bloody Melburnians, or whatever they call themselves now.

I’ve stood there over the last couple of years, trying to sing, feeling like an idiot because you know we’re coming across like the other lame “active” groups.

Better to protest the **** attitude towards the RBB than have us continue to fall into the mediocrity of the rest of the A-League.

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The move away from Parra has been a pretty sad episode for the fans of the club and with the RBB deciding to be non active it has gotten a little sadder.I am not having a go at the RBB when I ask this but more along the lines of other Wanderers fans support for them......

How many of the non active fans give a f*** about the RBB.? Supporters from the get go do....but the others...?

The only effective thing the club or the FFA will take any notice of is a stadium wide boycott of SOP or a severe decline in membership numbers for Parramatta.. ......would other non RBB fans want to do it.?

Or will the club go down the " we'll form our own active group" path as they have previously tried.?

I have the feeling a move back to Parra isn't going to heal the wounds quickly...... if ever.

Very Sad and totally within the control of the club and FFA to repair the damage but I doubt they will try very hard to do so.

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The club attempts at creating neutered performing puppets as a marketing tool are well documented. If the club is left with mediocrity on the pitch and silence in the stands then it may want to reconsider the "match day experience" it delivers at Fortress Parramatta. This is the other side of the Zero Tolerance stick. Let's see how the dark side of the moon looks. In the meantime Gosford and Newcastle away will be a treat.

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I basically have considered that our four memberships for the last 2 years , and this season our three memberships have constituted a $1000+ a year donation to the club, in the hope that something worthwhile will be waiting for us next season.﻿

I agree with your sentiments wendybr. I think there may be a number of current members who are looking forward to and are prepared to renew their memberships again next season , perhaps even having to cough up a few more $$ for memberships at the new stadium based on the the lure of the shiny new stadium, safe standing etc certainly after the absolute Sh@te we have had to endure on and off the pitch for the last 3 seasons. However as many others have voiced already on this forum , if the club are naive, arrogant, stupid or just don't care by thinking that moving to the new stadium alone will be sufficient to fix all of the issues they need to think again. I will see how it goes next season on and off the pitch , but by no means is if a foregone conclusion that I will continue blindly to renew every year . Perhaps the best stadium in the A league with ...7-8 k fans every home game, watching mediocre football, with tumbleweed blowing through the safe standing section in lei of active support. is this what they really aspire to ??????

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However as many others have voiced already on this forum , if the club are naive, arrogant, stupid or just don't care by thinking that moving to the new stadium alone will be sufficient to fix all of the issues they need to think again. I will see how it goes next season on and off the pitch , but by no means is if a foregone conclusion that I will continue blindly to renew every year . Perhaps the best stadium in the A league with ...7-8 k fans every home game, watching mediocre football, with tumbleweed blowing through the safe standing section in lei of active support. is this what they really aspire to ??????

Well said Jockman.

I think it's a danger if the club management is taking for granted the automatic return of support.

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Club has zero input in how police and security are going about things at SOP. Zilch. Whatever they are suggesting is brushed aside. We are football hooligans, remember? Security searching the journo area at spotless for flares in our S5 - that's how crazy things are there, and don't we all know it.

Club believes that they have established a productive dialogue with police in parra. No doubt this will be put to the test in July when we play Leeds. We'll know then if we have been victims of SOP attitude, or the club, or both.

In the meantime - Gosford and Newie it is. Looking forward to an appropriate farewell banner for spotless today. I didn't think I could become so cynical towards brick and mortar, but SOP made it possible. I hate going to that ground.

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I am wondering how we can actually communicate the deep concern, frustration etc to the club. What many are saying is that the whole experience so far over these last 3 years has been pretty dreadful - SOP has seemed to drain the life out of everything and then add the FFA's ignorant, naive and pathetic responses to real and passionate fans, the Club's struggle to walk a middle line, which has meant being ignorant of the fan's very real lack of positive experience, the unjust ways RBB are treated... I do understand that SOP are a law unto themselves and there is little that can be done but surely FFA and Club should give an ultimatum and not use these pathetic grounds ever again!!

Can FFA not understand that the writing is on the wall and crowds etc are declining? They actually need the RBB at full voice! They need WSW in a good ground with electric atmosphere. They need what RBB in full flight offers and they need to get into the heads of authorities that this is so. When the RBB are at their best, they bring all of us into the game, the experience and the team actually lifts. Even if the mindless ignoramuses in FFA Central can't get it, the CLUB must!! Surely the Board understand that they need RBB more than RBB needs them!!??

So, the question, how can we, in larger numbers communicate that we are in deep support of RBB and fans in general. We don't want second rate AFL/NRL level - they are truly laughable (went to AFL a couple of years ago and landed in the 'support section'. One guy held the flag, then hit a tambourine with a stick and got 'everyone' cheering for the Swans. It was sad and funny and most of the time was silence. That isn't football and it is time that we got back to what we are meant to be and that requires everyone on board supporting our most passionate supporters who work hard, give everything and lift the rest of us - the RBB!!!!! What can we positively do (and I don't really want to hear what won't work...)?

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Well said wendy. the problem we have I think is some of the fans that we have shed won't come back even in the new stadium.

I'll give my daughter as an example. She is a huge football person - plays at a pretty good level, refs, coaches an under 8's team, goes to matilda's games etc etc - she is the type of person that the ffa/club should want to get and keep as a member.

she was a wsw member until last season. her words after a season at SOP 'it is horrible. they don't want us here' and she refuses to go to games any more. it got so bad at spotless/anz that I was having to bring her high school library card to show the grub security guards so they wouldn't try to pat her down. she is lost forever to the club now - she won't be back.

5 minutes ago, FCB said:

Club has zero input in how police and security are going about things at SOP. Zilch. Whatever they are suggesting is brushed aside. We are football hooligans, remember? Security searching the journo area at spotless for flares in our S5 - that's how crazy things are there, and don't we all know it.

can understand with the police but security? the club is the client at SOP - surely these things would have been discussed as part of the process of signing a contract to be there for 3 years. even aside from that the club (and ffa) fuel this stuff with their 'zero tolerance' rhetoric, shutting active etc. I don't for a second believe that the club can pass the buck on this - I know this is what members have been told (me included) by JT and co but I don't believe it.

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can understand with the police but security? the club is the client at SOP - surely these things would have been discussed as part of the process of signing a contract to be there for 3 years. even aside from that the club (and ffa) fuel this stuff with their 'zero tolerance' rhetoric, shutting active etc. I don't for a second believe that the club can pass the buck on this - I know this is what members have been told (me included) by JT and co but I don't believe it.

Yep, I find it really difficult to believe also.

Either they gave them carte blanche at the beginning when they signed the deal, in which case, how bloody stupid is that, given all the stuff that's gone before.

Or, they are unwilling to do anything about it.

And it's not like they can just go, "it's alright, we'll start fresh with the new place", because, from what i understand, the same clowns are going to be looking after that as well.

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Email the club, every week. EVERY game you DON'T attend, tell them why. Copy in events nsw or whoever it is that's been running this **** show, and tell them you won't be going to the new place if it doesn't improve either. Copy in the club sponsors.

If you're on the socials, do the same thing there, and get everyone you know who feels the same way to be doing it. EVERY time.

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I don’t see what this will achieve except more negativity leading into our next season which will be a disappointing way to start in our new stadium. I thought there was good momentum building up to this game and now the bubble is burst.

On the other hand, the RBB can do whatever they like, that’s their perogative.

I know that even club officials in suits are not save from being eye balled by police at spotless. It's toxic in the active area, it doesn't take much being in trouble with the fun police there. Non active supporters tend to live in a bubble.

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It's not just the police/security issue that has been a problem at SOP although this has been the major issue, not just for the RBB but most fans in general all around both stadiums there.

What about some of the disgracefully prepared pitch surfaces that we have had to play on? Particularly the one this season where screws were found on the pitch before the game against Newcastle after the rave party held there the week before. What did we hear from the club re this? Nothing that I am aware of. At least ESFC have told Brookvale Oval to get ****ed and have now changed their mind on taking 1 game there due to the condition of the pitch.

I understand that contracts would have been signed by the club to play at the precinct. Surely the club are aware of fans discontent with so much that has happened there, yet, we have heard nothing. I actually attended a think tank at Spotless (by invitation of the club) half way through our first season there.

As far as I'm aware, none of the issues that were raised that day have been enacted upon. In fact, things have gradually become worse in the following seasons.

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SOP have no interest in accommodating WSW if it would mean rescheduling other events. We are a third class tenant, and the state of the pitch in the first jets home game suggests that they are treating us with disrespect at best, but "contempt" comes to mind.

When WSW steps outside of the west of Sydney it heads into enemy territory where NRL mindsets and the nanny state rules. It doesn't help when to governing body of the game is at war with the game itself.

I am hoping that the club will feel free to speak more openly about some of these matters once we are out of SOP, and once HAL has wrestled itself free from FFA.

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I know that even club officials in suits are not save from being eye balled by police at spotless. It's toxic in the active area, it doesn't take much being in trouble with the fun police there. Non active supporters tend to live in a bubble.

You know I don’t doubt the problems with security and police and I know it’s a lot worse for active. I was just pointing out that I don’t see what is going to be achieved. But I’ll just go back to my bubble.

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You know I don’t doubt the problems with security and police and I know it’s a lot worse for active. I was just pointing out that I don’t see what is going to be achieved. But I’ll just go back to my bubble.

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You know I don’t doubt the problems with security and police and I know it’s a lot worse for active. I was just pointing out that I don’t see what is going to be achieved. But I’ll just go back to my bubble.

Haha :-) Self preservation comes to mind. It's too easy to cop a ban. Remember your experience on the train platform in Adelaide in S5? That's what live is like in the active bays at spotless all the time.

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I’m being deliberately naive but the current cap system which is in place is broken. It doesn’t balance out the league. You already see SFC and MV exploiting it and CCM scraping the bottom of the barrel. This is already when we have a cap floor of 10%.
If City wanted to spent more money within the current cap system to win the league they could. They even tried with the Cahill rule where they essentially had 3 marquees. Frankly, the HAL is much lower in their pecking order and they would rather spend on their MLS, JLeague or CSL investments first before us.
I get the need to provide some balance so clubs can’t simply buy out the comp but this is when transfer fees and foreign player restrictions come in. If CCM unearthed a great young player and City wanted to buy them out for next year, having to pay a transfer fee will help CCM financially and it would a fair trade for both clubs. You can even introduce a tax so the FFA get a cut.
I just don’t like the cap because it isn’t doing what it is intended and it perpetuates a falsehood that the HAL is balanced.